Mormon motifs in Ann Romney's speech. Sikh temple shooter's death ruled a suicide. Catholic priest says pedophiles shouldn't be jailed for first offense.

Obama and Romney talk religion. Bryan Fischer agrees with Todd Akin on rape. German rabbi arrested for circumcision.

(RNS) President Obama doesn’t think it’s his job to defend his Christian faith against doubters who suspect he’s a secret Muslim. His GOP challenger, Mitt Romney, says religion is “integral” to his life, even as he avoids mentioning his Mormon faith by name. By Daniel Burke.

(RNS) More than 20 lawmakers and Capitol Hill aides, including one nude congressman, took a booze-fueled late-night swim in Israel’s Sea of Galilee last summer, Politico reported on Monday. Which leaves at least one question: Is skinny-dipping at the biblical site sacrilegious? By Daniel Burke.

Obama and Romney go to church. First lady to visit Sikh victims. Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr. GOP lawmakers go skinny dipping in Galilee.

The FRC gunman was reportedly a Nietzsche fanatic. A Tale of Two Catholics. Half of Christian women feel under-utilized and resigned to low expectations. 

(RNS) Vice president Joe Biden sits to the left of Catholic doctrine on abortion and other life issues. Fellow Catholic Paul Ryan, the newly minted GOP vice presidential candidate, sits to the right of his church on fiscal policy. If the 2012 presidential campaign proves anything, it's that there is no perfect Catholic politician. By Daniel Burke.

Paul Ryan has a Catholic problem. Sikhs hold their first service at a Wisconsin temple since shooting. Americans nuns reject Vatican takeover. 

"You've got a guy who is a rising Republican star, and who wrote the budget, saying he's read her books and Washington needs more of her values," said Eric Sapp, executive director of the American Values Network, which is trying to tie Paul Ryan to atheist philosopher Ayn Rand. "If you're a Christian, you've got to ask some serious questions about what's going on here."

(RNS) Funeral services will be held on Friday for the six Sikhs killed at Wisconsin temple. The bodies of the deceased will be cremated, but, according to Sikh theology, their souls will live on. By Daniel Burke.

Vigils for victims of Sikh shootings. Suspected gunman was a neo-Nazi. Sikhs say their turbans are targets. American nuns prepare for Vatican dispute. 

(RNS) The very item that Sikhs wear as a marker of their religious identity also singles them out as targets for violent attacks like Sunday's shooting in Wisconsin. By Daniel Burke.

This week on the Godcast: The Welcome Wagon, an indie folk/gospel duo from Brooklyn, N.Y.

(RNS) The hip-hop artist formerly known as Snoop Dogg has taken a new name that reflects his religious conversion. So, did Snoop have to change his name when he became a Rasta? By Daniel Burke.

It could get pretty crowded at Chick-fil-A today. Black pastors protest President Obama's gay marriage support. Rep. Michele Bachmann rakes in the dough. Lots of religion news from the Olympics.